Cane, crutch and walking stick retrieving tip

ABSTRACT

An improved cane, crutch or walking stick tip that allows a user to retrieve objects from a walking surface in a sitting or a standing position without need of bending over. The device employs a single moveable element contained within the tip and can be actuated by the users hand or foot. This improved tip may be furnished on new canes, crutches and walking sticks or as a replacement tip on existing canes, crutches or walking sticks regardless of their design or material of construction. The tip is similar in appearance to existing tips presently in use and does not create a tripping hazard.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/849,571 Filed 01-330-2013 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

not applicable

BACKGROUND Prior Art

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant regarding retrieving canes.

U.S. PATENTS

PATENT NUMBER ISSUE DATE PATENTEE 4,811,750 Mar. 14, 1989 John M. McAllister 4,827,956 May 9, 1989 William W. Toot 5,176,160 Jan. 5, 1993 George M. Osborn 5,392,800 Feb. 25, 1995 Michael V. Sergi 5,636,650 Jun. 10, 1977 Stephan H. Kroeze 5,640,985 Jun. 24, 1997 Syndetic et. al. 6,527,321 Mar. 4, 2003 Alex Kuciauskas

PRIOR ART

The use of canes, crutches and walking sticks among the elderly or others afflicted by illness or injury is well known. Many of the users of canes, crutches and walking sticks do not have the flexibility to retrieve objects from a walking surface when in a standing or sitting position. Several U.S. patents have attempted to solve this problem by providing various mechanisms attached to or contained within the hollow metal or plastic body of a cane or attached to the cane exterior.

One prior art device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,750 by McAllister. This device is contained within the hollow shaft of the cane. The opening of the cane finger assembly as described requires releasing a lever and then striking the cane handle against a chair rail or similar surface. This action releases a spring within the canes shaft pushing an actuator rod to expose the finger assembly out of the cane shaft tip. It appears from the drawing that the finger assembly is too large to be retracted within the cane shaft. Additionally, the cane tip would be less effective in providing slip resistance due to the large opening required to retract the finger assembly. The locking lever is located in a position near the lower portion of the cane which may be beyond the reach of the elderly. This assembly is restricted to straight hollow metal canes that are not adjustable in length. McAllister does not address use of this device on solid wood, bent hollow metal or plastic canes.

Another prior art device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,956 by Toot consists of gripping members secured to the surface of a cane body and controlled by a reversible motor. The gripping is actuated by a reversing switch near the cane handle to close or open the gripping members. This assembly would create additional weight near the bottom of the cane shaft due to said motor and battery. That additional weight near the tip of the cane shaft could be cumbersome and may possibly become a potential tripping hazard to the user. The electrical wiring may also become entangled in nearby objects causing damage to the device. The gripping device in vertical orientation may not be effective on a variety of objects. Closing force of the gripper is not adjustable and may result in crushed or dropped objects being retrieved. The seldom used gripping feature on battery operated canes would require diligent attention to battery life in order to be ready when needed.

Yet another prior art device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,160 by Osborn describes a cane with a trigger actuated jaw located near the tip of a cane for retrieving objects. This device would not be suitable for attachment to hollow shaft adjustable canes or hollow shaft bent adjustable canes. The Osborn cane can only be installed on straight canes in order to position the trigger near the handle and accessible for finger control. The gripper device presents a potential tripping hazard to the user or others and possible entanglement of the actuating cable with nearby objects.

Still other prior arts shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,650 by Kroeze, U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,800 by Sergi and U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,985 by Snyder et.al. These arts are similar in design utilizing hollow metal canes containing mechanisms to actuate a gripping member located near the cane tip by lever means located near the cane handle. The Sergi and the Snyder et.al devices do not store the gripping mechanisms within the cane shaft thus creating a potential tripping hazard to the user or others nearby. The Kroeze device containing all mechanisms within the cane shaft presents a more complicated arrangement of hardware that would be difficult to assemble and maintain. Weight of the Sergi and Kroeze canes could be cumbersome. Gripping devices on the Kroeze, Snyder et.al, and Sergi canes would have difficulty in retrieving some objects from the walking surface as previously discussed in the prior art of Toot.

Prior art shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,321 by Kuciauskas describes a double shaft cane designed in a scissors type arrangement. In use the cane is opened in scissors fashion and inverted to retrieve objects from the walking surface where the two-part handles come together to secure an object. A user may find this device difficult to prepare and use while still maintaining balance. This device would probably be limited to picking up objects that are protruding from the walking surface. Currency and other objects lying flat against the walking surface may not be retrieved by this device. Object size to be retrieved may be limited. Smaller objects being retrieved may result in pinched fingers. This art is limited to straight non-adjustable canes.

SUMMARY

A cane, crutch and walking stick tip incorporating a means of retrieving an object from a walking surface in a standing or sitting position without the need to bend over. A tip that self-contains a single moveable member for retrieving objects while not significantly adding additional weight to the cane, crutch and walking stick.

ADVANTAGES

The retrieving tip is similar in appearance to presently used tips on canes, crutches and walking sticks and does not attract unnecessary attention to the walking aid. The tip is designed to contain a single sliding member that extends a retrieving finger beyond the bottom surface of the tip The tip does not employ springs, pulleys, levers or cables as most prior art reviewed. The retrieving finger is actuated by hand or foot from a sitting or standing position. The tip is not subject to malfunctions or routine maintenance and requires only minimal instruction of the User. This design allows the tip to be adapted for use with crutches and walking sticks as well.

DRAWING—FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an assembled cane, crutch and walking stick tip.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the cane, crutch and walking stick tip.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the cane, crutch and walking stick tip.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cane, crutch and walking stick tip.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the cane, crutch and walking stick tip.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the assembled cane, crutch and walking stick tip.

DRAWING—REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   10. Body -   12. Hole -   14. Socket -   16. Disk -   18. Knob -   20. Finger -   22. Tread -   24. Recess -   26. Finger Recess

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIRST EMBODIMENT

One embodiment of the cane, crutch and walking stick tip is illustrated in FIG. 1 showing Body 10 formed of a resilient or elastomeric material such as natural rubber to provide anti-slip protection between the walking surface and the tip Tread 22 as shown in FIG. 4. The tip Body 10 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a Hole 12 through which the Finger 20 shown in FIG. 3 is contained. The Hole 12 may be formed in the casting or molding process or simply drilled to suit the Finger 20 cross-section for a sliding frictional fit. As shown in FIG. 3 a Finger Recess 26 that allows Finger 20 to be stored when not in use and to avoid any contact with the walking surface. Body 10 provides a slightly thicker tip base to allow for the Finger Recess 26. The upper end of the Finger 20 shown in FIG. 3 is contained within Knob 18 and secured by friction, fastener or cement. The Knob 18 can be made of rigid plastic or other similar materials to withstand foot pressure during operation. The Finger 20 may be formed of various materials and cross-sectional shapes. The materials may be stainless steel, non-ferrous metals, plastics or other materials that provide the rigidity necessary to withstand operational foot pressure. The material shape may be round, square, triangular, rectangular or others to provide necessary rigidity for foot pressure operation. The vertical section of the Finger 20 as shown in FIG. 3 may be of various lengths as necessary to provide for retrieving larger objects. The Finger 20 is bent or formed to lie perpendicular to the axis of the Socket 14. This bent finger section is provided with a ramped or tapered end as shown in FIG. 3. Knob 18 is designed to be in close but not touching contact with the cane, crutch and walking stick shaft. The Knob 18 contains a radius closely matching that of the cane, crutch and walking stick shaft to partially enclose the circumference of the shaft preventing any possible rotation of the Finger 20 which could result in a misalignment of the finger and Finger Recess. Bottom of Socket 14 contains a metal or plastic Disk 16 to prevent possible damage to the Body 10 by the cane, crutch and walking stick shaft.

OPERATION

At times a cane, crutch or walking stick user may drop a small object like keys, wallet, credit card or currency and not be physically capable of retrieving it from a sitting of standing position. This cane, crutch and walking stick patent application presents a device unlike the prior art researched relative to this application. This art provides a finger that is guided by the user to slip beneath an object to be retrieved rather than pincher or gripper devices that do not lie in the plane of the walking surface. The tip can be furnished by a manufacture on new canes, crutches or walking sticks or provided as a replacement for existing.

The operation of the retrieving tip is the same for the cane, crutch or walking stick users. For clarity and to avoid confusion, the tip operation will be described here as it applies only to the cane users although the operation also applies to crutch and walking stick users as well. The retrieving tip may be rotated about the cane shaft axis to provide user with the most convenient access to the operating knob when used by foot pressure which will be discussed shortly. In most cases, the knob would be positioned directly below the cane handle.

In use from a sitting position, the user may lift the cane and push down on the knob by hand to extend the finger away from the tip body to prepare for retrieving an object. The user places the extended finger lightly against the walking surface and guides the tapered end of the finger beneath the object to be retrieved. When the object in the users judgment is in position, the user pushes down on the cane handle forcing the finger towards the tip body and thus securing the object. The user picks up the cane and pushes down on the knob by hand to release the object. The finger may be returned to the recess provided by pulling upwards on the knob by hand or placing the cane tip against the walking surface and pushing down on the handle forcing the finger into the recess provided.

An alternate method of retrieving and object from a sitting position would require the user to push down on the knob with a foot or catch the knob on a nearby object such as a table leg, chair rung etc. thus extending the retrieving finger. The object is retrieved by the user in the manner previously described.

Some objects such as pencils, currency, coins, etc. that may move away from the finger when attempting a retrieval may be restrained by stepping onto the object or using a shoe, nearby wall or furniture piece to provide the necessary resistance to prevent movement away from the finger.

The use of the cane from a standing position is similar to that as described for the sitting position except the user may need to brace themselves against nearby objects in order to maintain balance during an attempt to retrieve an object. This also applies to crutch and walking stick users.

Assembly of the retrieving tip requires the vertical or longest length of the finger to be inserted into the provided hole where the horizontal or shortest end of the finger taper aligns with the recess provided in the body. The knob is then installed onto the vertical end of the finger by predetermined means with the radii of the knob in close contact with the cane, crutch or walking stick shaft. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cane, crutch and walking stick retrieving tip comprising; a body formed of an elastomeric or other predetermined material in a shape similar to that used on existing cane, crutch or walking stick tip or in some other predetermined shape or configuration; a socket formed at predetermined diameters to accept cane, crutch and walking stick shafts of various diameters; an anti-slip surface provided on the body area of the tip contacting a walking surface provided with predetermined ridge and recess patterns or abrasive means; a recess provided within the anti-slip surface of the body and sized for storage of the retrieving finger horizontal section when finger is fully retracted; a hole sized and shaped for predetermined finger sectional dimensions to accept the finger slidably; a finger in size and shape to fit slidably in predetermined receiving tip provided hole; a finger comprising a vertical section and a horizontal section, said finger of a predetermined material in a predetermined cross sectional shape and size; a finger provided with vertical section and horizontal section, said vertical section of predetermined length sized for range of objects to be retrieved; a taper or ramp provided near the end of the finger horizontal section of approximately fifty percent of the horizontal section length; a recess provided in the body area of the tip within the anti-slip surface and sized for storage of the retrieving finger horizontal section when finger is fully retracted; a knob attached by predetermined means to end of vertical section of finger, said knob of a predetermined material; a knob provided with radii closely matching but not contacting radii of user cane, crutch or walking stick shaft;
 2. The retrieving top of claim 1 wherein; a finger vertical section containing frictional stops at predetermined locations on the finger at an open position of the finger horizontal section and at the closed position of the finger horizontal section. 